Afghan opium cultivation to rise in 2013-U.N. report

Afghanistan has no economy to sustain even its own army after the departure of the occupier. The Taliban have no such problem. Against this backdrop and that of the institutional corruption, the whole house of cards will come down within months of NATO's tail between the legs exit. The whole operation since 2001, including the 'war' against the opium trade, will have been an abject exercise in futility.
 Afghan opium cultivation to rise in 2013-U.N. report - AlertNet:
"Experts say uncertainty over the future after most foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 could boost opium growth as a means of earning money.
Last year, the area used to grow poppies was 154,000 hectares, Raithelhuber said. While the area is expanding, it was unclear if it would reach the record of 193,000 hectares in 2007.
The UNODC report, prepared together with Afghanistan's Ministry of Counter Narcotics, said there was a link between insecurity, lack of agricultural aid, and opium farming.
Villages with poor security and those which had not received agricultural help were much more likely to grow poppies in 2013 than others, it said."